Mechanism for corking bottles or like receptacles.



lNo. 668,478. Patented Feb. I9-, 190|. A BAUMGARTEN- MEGHANISM FOR GDRKING BOTTLES 0R LIKE RECEPTACLES.

(Application vined Aug.`2, 1900.1

(No Model.)

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No. 668,478. Patented Feb. I9, |\90|.

A. BAUMGARTEN. MECHANISM FUR CORKING BOTLES 0B LIKE RECEPTACLES.

(Application lec Aug. 2.19001 2 Sheets--Sheef 2.

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ALBERT BAUMGARTEN, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

M ECHANISIVB FOR CORKING BOTTLES OR LIKE RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,478, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed August Z, 1900. Serial No. 25,601. KNO model.)

The invention relates to devices for inserting corks into the necks of bottles and the like, and designs, primarily, to provide a simple construction of mechanism Which can be quickly operated and, furthermore, to provide improved mechanism whereby a bottle can be securely held in proper position beneath the case while the mechanism for inserting a cork is being operated. In devices of this class it has been customary toprovide a base or support whereby a bottle was supported and held while the mechanism for inserting corks was being operated. In some instances such base or support was movable, so the bottle could be brought into position beneath the mechanism for inserting a cork and to provide for holding bottles of different heights, and in other instances the plunger casing or support was movable to permit the plunger and casing to be shifted and brought into proper relative position with respect to the bottle. Both of such constructions were of necessity somewhat large and cumbersome. The present invention designs to avoid the necessity of mounting either the bottle-support or the plunger-frame in a manner free to move with respect to each other.

One feature of the invention consists in providing a clamping mechanism adjacent the plunger-casing, whereby the necks of bottles of all thicknesses or heights may be conveniently, quickly, and securely held in proper position to have a cork inserted in the mouth thereof. In practice I have found that a clamping mechanism secured to the plunger casing or support can be made to securely retain a bottle against displacement while the c'ork is being forced into the bottle-neck by the plunger. By employing a clamping mechanism secured to the casing to hold the bottleneck the plunger support or casing can be rigidly secured, and such mechanism will serve to securely hold bottles regardlessof thickness or height in pro per position beneath the plunger-casing while the plunger is being operated.

It has heretofore been customary to employ along lever forimparting longitudinal movement to the plunger. The present invention furtherdesigns to provide a sim ple construction wherein the necessity of employing a long operating-lever is avoided and to provide a simple, effecti ve, and compact operating mechanism.

With such object in viewthe invention further consists in providing intermeshing teeth intermediate the plunger and lever, whereby the desired leverage is obtained and the necessary force may be applied to the plunger for inserting a cork into the neck of a bottle. In such construction a short lever and an. eX- tended throw thereof may be used, thus providing a Smaller, more compact, and simpler arrangement than was heretofore used.

The invention further consists in providing a casing for the plunger wherein the operating-lever is pivotally sustained and which is formed of separate sections secured together. Such construction affords a construction which is inexpensive of construction and which permits t-he operating parts to be readily and easily placed in proper relative position and held in such relation during the operation.

The invention further consists in the several novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in side elevation of a corking apparatus embodying the preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side View, a section of the casing being removed to show the parts within, the operating-lever and plunger being shown in position assumed after a cork has been forced into a bottle. Fig. fi is a front elevation. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan. Fig.

G is a detail sectional view through the casing-sections at line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

A denotes an inclosing casing or frame designed to contain the several parts and re- IOO tain them in operative relation. The casing is preferably formed of separate vertical sections 10 and 11, secured together, as by screws 12, and said sections form sides between which the operating parts of the mechanism for inserting corks fit and are held. By forming the casing in sect-ions the operating parts within the casing may be readily assembled and placed in position, and when the sections have been secured together said parts will be held in proper relative position. In practice it is customary to provide the casing with means whereby it may be secured to a fixed support, such as a table, counter, or shelf. Such means usually comprise a rest or lug a, formed integrally with one of the casing-sections and adapted to rest upon a table or like support, and a jam-screw 2, extended through a lug a', formed on one of the casing-sections. 3 is a washer or pressure-plate carried by jam-screw 2 and adapted to engage the under side of a iXed support and secure the casing in desired posit-ion.

Casing-section 11 is formed with an eXtension or lug 13, wherein is secured a bolt or pin 14E, whereon the jaws B and B of the bottle-holder are pivotally secured. Each of the jaws B and B is provided with ears 15, encircling pin 14, and is formed with a curved central portion formed to fit around a bottleneck, and the jaws are provided with an elastic lining-strip l6,arranged to impinge against the bottle-neck. The distal end of jaw B is provided with a stud 17, which is projected through and held within a horizontal slot 18, formed in a depending portion 19 of casingsection 10. The distal portion of jaw B is likewise provided with a stud 20, which projects ythrough and is held within a horizontal slot 21,:-formed in depending portion 19 of casing-section 10. Such slots and Astuds retain the jaws against vertical movement. A hand-lever C is pivotally sustained in position at the side of the casing by a pivot-pin` c. Studs 17 and 2O of the jaws B and B' are also projected, respectively, into slots 22 and 23, formed in hand-lever C upon opposite sides of pivot c thereof. The lever-pivot is located centrally between the studs, so that when the lever is shifted both of the jaws are shifted toward each other to cause the bottles to be positioned centrally beneath the casing.

The operation of the mechanism for holding bottles is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and a bottle to have been placed between the jaws B and B', the operator will swing the handle C of lever C backwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and such shift will cause the lever C to swing about its pivot c and shift studs 17 and 20 and jaws B and B toward each other and force the lining-strips 16 lirmly against the bottleneck. The bottle-neck will then be securely held beneath the corking apparatus in position to receive a cork. A reverse shift of the hand-lever C will return the parts to normal position and release the bottle from the bite of the jaws of the bottle-holder.

Within the casing A a cylindrical guide or way 24.- is formed, wherein a plungerD is held in a manner free to slide longitudinally, and the lower portion thereof is tapered, as at 25, to compress a cork sufficiently to enter the neck of a bottle. Above socket 25 in the front. of casing Aan opening 26 is formed, through which a cork may be placed into the guide 24 or socket 25 1in position to be forced downwardly by plunger D. 'lhe socket 25 has an open lower end,wherethrough a cork can pass into the mouth of a bottle held in position against or in close proximity to the casing.

E is an operating-lever provided with a suitable handle e and pivot studs or trunnions 28, projected laterally therefrom and held in journals 29, formed in lugs 36, formed integral with the casing-sections. The operatinglever is held between lugs 36 of the casingsections and is also provided with a segmental .gear or gear-teeth 3l adjacent its pivot, which intermesh with corresponding rack-teeth 32, formed on the plunger. In normal position the operating-lever extends backwardly from the casing and rests upon lug a and when in such position serves to retain plunger D in its upward position.

The operation of the corking apparatus is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) a bottle being held in proper position beneath the tapering socket 25 by jaws B and B', and a cork to have been placed in socket 25 through opening 26, the operator will swing lever E forwardly about its pivot, suoli oscillation causing the intermeshing teeth of the lever and plunger to impart a downward movement to the plunger. The plunger during such downward movement will engage the cork and force the same through tapering socket 25 and into the bottle-neck. While passing through tapering socket 25 the cork will be compressed so it will readily enter the bottle-neck. A reverse shift will restore the plunger to normal position in the casing and in readiness for a succeeding operation.

The invention possesses several important advantages. The clamping mechanism arranged beneath the casing is a simple mechanism which can be quickly and conveniently operated and whereby bottles of all sizes will be securely held in proper position centrally beneath the socket of the casing. The mechanism for shifting the plunger is simple and inexpensive of construction, and by employing intermeshing teeth to impart movement to the plunger a sufficient leverage and length of stroke is had without the necessity of employing a very long lever, such as is now in use. The casing formed of sections fitted together provides a simple means for retaining the operating parts in operative relation and in such manner that these parts may be readily assembled, and,

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` furthermore, when separate sections are emlso ployed the operating-lever, segmental gear, and pivot-studs may be formed integral.

The entire apparatus is simple and can be readily secured to any desired support, and the construction is a very compact one.

The invention, so far as I am aware, is the iirst instance wherein clamping mechanism conveniently secured to the plunger-casing has been used to hold the upper portion of a bottle in position in a device used for inserting eorks, and this mechanism I have found in practice to be an exceptionally-advantageous construction.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the construction shown and described, but may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention. So, also, the features thereof may be employed severally without its adoption in entirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-,-

1. In mechanism for coi-king bottles, the

' combi nation with a casing or support, a socket or guide, a plunger and mechanism for causing said plunger to force a cork from said socket into a bottle, of a clamping mechanism comprising laterally-movable members ai ranged to grasp the upper portion of a bottle, and secure the bottle against vertical movement and in position beneath the casing or support, and mechanism whereby said members may be positively and manually shifted to engage a bottle, said mechanism serving to simultaneously and uniformly move said members toward a bottle.

2. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a casing or support, a socket or guide, a plunger and mechanism for causing said plunger to torce a cork from said socket into a bottle, of a clamping mechanism comprising laterally-movable members arranged to grasp the upper portion of the 4bott-le, and secure the bottle against vertical movement and in position beneath the casing or support, said `clamping mechanism being sustained by said casing or support, and mechanism whereby said members may be posi` tively and manually shifted toward or from a bottle, simultaneously and uniformly.

1 3. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a casing orsupport, a socket or guide, a plunger and mechanism for causing said plunger to force a cork from said socket into a bottle, of a clamping mechanism comprising laterally-movable members arranged to grasp the upper portion of a bottle, and secure the bottle against vertical movement and in position beneath the casing or support, and a band-lever for shifting both of said members.

4. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a casing or support, a socket or guide, a plunger and mechanism for causing said plunger to force a cork from said socket into a bottle, of a clamping mechanism comprising laterally-movable members arranged to grasp the upper portion of the bottle, and secure the bottle against vertical movement and in position beneath the casing or support, said clamping mechanism being sustained by said casing or support, and a hand-lever for shifting both of said jaws.

5. In mechanisml for coi-king bottles, the combination with a casing orsupport, a socket or guide, a plunger and mechanism for causing said plunger to torce a cork from said socket into a bottle, of a clamping mechanism comprising laterally-movable members arranged to grasp the upper portion of the bottle, and secure the bottle against vertical movement and in position beneath the casing or support, said clamping mechanism being sustained by said casing or support, and a lever connected with both ot' said jaws and serving to shift said jaws positively in either direction.

6. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a casing or support, of a plunger guided therein, an operating-lever, said plunger and lever being provided with intermeshing teeth, a socket wherethrough a cork will be forced by said plunger and a pair of jaws pivotally sustained at one side of said casing, and a hand-lever pivotally sustained by said casing for controlling said jaws.

7. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a plunger and an operating-lever operatively connected therewith, of a casing formed of vertical sections, which when secured together, form a support for said lever, and a guide for said plunger, a socket in said casing wherefrom a cork may be forced by said plunger into a bottle, and a pair of jaws pivotally sustained by one casing-section and a lever pivotally sustained by the other of said casing-sections for controlling said jaws.

8. In mechanism for corking bottles, the combination with a casing formed of vertical sections, a plunger, a guide in said casing for said plunger, an operating-lever pivotally sustained by said casing, a gear and rack-teeth intermediate said lever and plunger, a socket wherefrom a cork will be forced by said plunger into a bottle, and mechanism for holding a bottle beneath said socket, comprising jaws pivotally sustained by said casing, and a lever pivotally sustained by said casing for con-` trolling said jaws.

ALBERT BAUMGARTEN.

Witnesses:

LoUts STROHACKER, Enw. STROHACKER.

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